If you need a whimsical gift for a new baby, a dreamy addition to a nursery mobile, or just something delightfully different to hang in your craft room, this jellyfish is exactly the project you want. The construction uses basic single crochet worked in the round, making it approachable for anyone who has completed at least one amigurumi project before. The spiral tentacles look impressively complex but are actually created through a simple technique that causes the yarn to coil all on its own.
This pattern works up in about four to six hours per jellyfish, making it a satisfying weekend project or an achievable last-minute handmade gift. The finished piece hangs beautifully from a length of natural cotton twine, catching the light and gently swaying with any breeze. Whether you make just one or craft a whole school of jellyfish in soft neutrals, you will end up with something truly special.
Cotton yarn gives the best results here because it holds the stitch definition crisply and shows off those gorgeous spiral tentacles. The two colorways shown, off-white cream and soft medium gray, have a calming Scandinavian aesthetic that fits perfectly in modern nurseries and minimalist spaces. Let me walk you through everything you need to make your own.
Why This Jellyfish Pattern Works So Well
I love this design because it solves a common amigurumi problem. So many stuffed creatures look adorable but just sit there. This jellyfish actually does something. It hangs, it sways, and those curly tentacles move and dance with the slightest air current. There is genuine magic in watching it twirl slowly from a ceiling hook or mobile arm.
The construction is clever but not complicated. You work a rounded dome for the bell using standard amigurumi techniques. Then you add a decorative ruffle around the bottom edge, attach eight spiral tentacles, and finish with a sweet embroidered face and a tiny crown embellishment on top. Each element is straightforward on its own, and when they come together, the result is genuinely charming.
The tentacles deserve special mention. They look like they required some advanced technique or careful blocking, but they really just happen automatically. When you work three single crochet stitches into every chain of a foundation chain, the fabric has nowhere to go but into a tight spiral. No shaping required. No blocking needed. The curl is the natural result of the stitch math.
Finished Dimensions
Your completed jellyfish will measure approximately:
These measurements assume you match the stated gauge and stuff the bell firmly. Your results may vary slightly based on individual tension, which is completely normal for amigurumi.
Materials You Will Need
Yarn: Size 3 light DK weight or heavy sport weight cotton or cotton-blend yarn. You will need approximately 100 to 120 yards (91 to 110 meters) per jellyfish in a single color. Cotton is strongly recommended because it holds stitch definition well and shows the spiral texture clearly.
Recommended yarn options:
Crochet hook: US size D-3 (3.25 mm). Working tighter than the yarn label suggests is intentional for amigurumi. This prevents stuffing from showing through the stitches.
Additional supplies:
Gauge
14 single crochet stitches and 16 rounds equals 4 inches (10 cm), worked in continuous rounds using a US D-3 (3.25 mm) hook with recommended yarn.
Gauge matters here for two reasons. First, it determines whether your bell will be the correct size. Second, and more importantly for amigurumi, it ensures your fabric is dense enough that white stuffing will not show through. If your stitches look loose and you can see gaps, go down one hook size. If your fabric feels stiff and distorted, go up one hook size.
Abbreviations and Stitch Definitions
Let me define every stitch and abbreviation before we begin. If you are newer to crochet patterns, read through this section carefully. Understanding exactly what each term means will make the instructions much easier to follow.
ch = chain. Wrap the yarn over your hook and pull through the loop. This creates one chain stitch.
sl st = slip stitch. Insert hook into the indicated stitch, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one motion. This is used for joining and for creating the crown embellishment.
sc = single crochet. Insert hook into the stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops.
inc = increase. Work two single crochet stitches into the same stitch. This adds one stitch to your total count.
sc2tog = single crochet two together. This is a decrease that turns two stitches into one. Insert hook into the next stitch and pull up a loop. Insert hook into the following stitch and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook.
MR = magic ring. Also called a magic circle or adjustable ring. This is a technique for starting amigurumi that allows you to pull the center hole completely closed.
BLO = back loop only. FLO = front loop only. These indicate working into just one loop of a stitch instead of both.
st/sts = stitch/stitches
rnd = round
rep = repeat
pm = place marker
sm = slip marker
Special Techniques
Magic Ring (MR): Make a loop with your yarn, crossing the working end over the tail. Insert your hook through the loop from front to back. Pull the working yarn through to create a slip knot on your hook. Chain 1 to secure. Work the required number of stitches into the ring. Pull the tail end firmly to close the ring before continuing.
Spiral Tentacle Chain: This technique creates those beautiful coiled tentacles. Work a foundation chain of the stated length. Starting in the second chain from the hook, work three single crochet stitches into every single chain across. Because you are packing three stitches into each tiny chain space, the strip immediately coils into a spiral. Do not try to flatten it. The curl is intentional and desirable.
Underskirt Ruffle: This decorative frill frames the tentacles. You simply work two single crochet stitches into every stitch around the bottom opening of the bell. The doubling creates the gentle ruffle effect.
Pattern Instructions
The Bell
The bell is worked in continuous rounds without joining or turning. This is standard amigurumi technique. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of each round and move it up as you work. This keeps your count accurate.
Round 1: MR, work 6 sc into ring. Pull ring closed. (6 sc)
Round 2: Inc in every stitch around. (12 sc)
Round 3: (Sc 1, inc) repeat around. (18 sc)
Round 4: (Sc 2, inc) repeat around. (24 sc)
Round 5: (Sc 3, inc) repeat around. (30 sc)
Round 6: (Sc 4, inc) repeat around. (36 sc)
Round 7: (Sc 5, inc) repeat around. (42 sc)
Round 8: (Sc 6, inc) repeat around. (48 sc)
Rounds 9 and 10: Sc in every stitch around. (48 sc each round)
Important: This is the widest point of your bell. Insert the safety eyes now, placing them on Round 9 or 10. Position them 4 to 5 stitches apart, centered on what will be the front of the jellyfish. Safety eyes must be attached before you close and stuff the bell.
Round 11: (Sc 6, sc2tog) repeat around. (42 sc)
Round 12: Sc in every stitch around. (42 sc)
Round 13: (Sc 5, sc2tog) repeat around. (36 sc)
Round 14: Sc in every stitch around. (36 sc)
Round 15: (Sc 4, sc2tog) repeat around. (30 sc)
Checkpoint: Your bell should measure approximately 2.5 to 3 inches (6.5 to 7.5 cm) tall from the magic ring to your current working round. The opening should be noticeably narrowing.
Round 16: (Sc 3, sc2tog) repeat around. (24 sc)
Begin stuffing now. Add polyester fiberfill firmly. Continue adding stuffing as you complete the remaining rounds.
Round 17: (Sc 2, sc2tog) repeat around. (18 sc)
Round 18: (Sc 1, sc2tog) repeat around. (12 sc)
Round 19: Sc2tog around. (6 sc)
Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch (15 cm) tail. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle and weave through the front loop of each remaining stitch. Pull to cinch the opening closed. Knot securely and bury the tail inside the bell.
The Underskirt Ruffle
Turn the bell upside down so the bottom opening faces up. You will work into the stitches of Round 10, which is the last even round before decreasing began. This round has 48 stitches.
Join yarn at any stitch of Round 10 with a slip stitch.
Ruffle Round 1: Work 2 sc into every stitch around. (96 sc)
Ruffle Round 2: Sc in every stitch around. (96 sc)
Sl st into the next stitch. Fasten off and weave in the end neatly.
Checkpoint: Your ruffle should form a small, gentle frill that stands out from the bottom edge of the bell. It should not be pulled tightly against the body.
The Crown Embellishment
This small decorative element sits at the very top of the bell.
Make a magic ring. Work 6 sc into the ring. Sl st to close into a ring. Do not fasten off.
Next Round: (Ch 3, sl st into the next stitch) repeat 6 times to form 6 small loops around the ring.
Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch tail.
Use the tail to stitch the embellishment securely to the top of the bell, centered over the magic ring closure. The loops will fan out to look like a small flower or decorative knot.
The Tentacles
Each jellyfish has 8 identical tentacles. Here is how to make each one:
Ch 41.
Starting in the second chain from hook, work 3 sc into each chain across to the end.
Fasten off, leaving a 6-inch (15 cm) tail for attachment.
The tentacle will coil into a spiral immediately. This is correct. Do not try to straighten it.
Make 8 tentacles total.
Checkpoint: Each finished tentacle should coil to approximately 6 to 7 inches (15 to 18 cm) in length. If your coils seem too loose, try working with slightly more tension when making the three single crochets into each chain.
Attaching the Tentacles
Hold your bell upside down. You will attach all 8 tentacles evenly around the bottom edge, just inside or beneath the ruffle.
Divide the attachment points evenly: with 48 stitches around the circumference and 8 tentacles, place one tentacle every 6 stitches.
For each tentacle, thread the tail onto your tapestry needle. Insert the needle from outside the bell edge inward, looping through 2 to 3 stitches of the bell base. Tie off in a double knot inside the bell and bury the tail.
After all 8 tentacles are attached, allow them to hang freely and adjust their positions so they drape evenly.
The Hanging Cord
Cut a length of natural cotton twine or matching yarn, approximately 18 to 24 inches (46 to 61 cm).
Thread the cord onto a tapestry needle. Insert the needle through the top of the bell, passing through the magic ring closure area, and pull the cord through so both ends emerge from the top. Remove the needle. Tie both ends together in an overhand knot approximately 6 to 8 inches above the bell.
Alternatively, fold the cord in half and thread the folded loop through the top. Pull the two tail ends through the loop to create a lark’s head attachment, then knot the tails together at your desired hanging height.
Embroidering the Smile
Thread a tapestry needle with black embroidery floss or thin black yarn. Bring the needle up from inside the bell to the surface, just below and between the safety eyes.
Work 2 to 3 small straight stitches in a shallow upward-curved arc to create a gentle smile. The curve should be subtle, not exaggerated. Re-enter the needle through the surface and knot the floss securely inside the bell. Trim any excess.
Customizing the Size
To make a smaller jellyfish: Use fingering weight yarn (size 2) with a US B-1 (2.25 mm) hook. Work the bell through Round 6 for maximum circumference (36 sc instead of 48 sc), then begin decreasing. Reduce tentacle chain length to Ch 31. This yields a bell approximately 2.5 inches (6.5 cm) in diameter.
To make a larger jellyfish: Add two more increase rounds after Round 8, going to 54 sc and then 60 sc. Work two even rounds before decreasing. Increase tentacle chain length to Ch 51. Use worsted weight yarn with a US F-5 (3.75 mm) hook.
For fuller tentacles: Make 10 or 12 tentacles instead of 8. Simply divide your attachment points evenly around the circumference.
Care Instructions
Hand wash gently in cool water with mild soap. Do not wring. Press between towels to remove excess water. Hang from the cord to dry, letting the tentacles hang naturally so they retain their coiled shape. Do not machine dry.
Please note: Safety eyes are securely fastened, but this item is not intended for children under 3 years of age due to small parts.
Final Thoughts on This Jellyfish Crochet Pattern
This project hits a sweet spot between impressive-looking results and genuinely accessible construction. The spiral tentacles are the real showstopper, and I hope you feel confident now that they are much simpler than they appear. Take your time with the tentacle attachment step, as neatness there makes a real difference in the finished look.
I would love to see your finished jellyfish! Tag me on Instagram or share your photos in my Facebook group. Seeing what you create from these patterns is honestly one of my favorite parts of designing.
If this crochet pattern caught your eye, go ahead and pin it to your Pinterest boards so you can find it when you are ready to start. And if you make one of these sweet jellyfish, I would absolutely love to hear about it in the comments below. Happy crocheting!
